Chris Kreider, a 35-year-old winger who can still absolutely light it up, is suddenly an unrestricted free agent after agreeing to a mutual termination of his contract with the Anaheim Ducks. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman dropped the bomb that Kreider’s last year of his deal just vanished, making him the hottest commodity on the open market right now, and teams out East better be paying attention.
The Offer Sheet That Blew Up Anaheim’s Cap Situation
So, what happened in Anaheim? It’s a mess, all thanks to a seriously aggressive move by Flyers general manager Danny Briere. He slapped an $18 million AAV offer sheet on Leo Carlsson, and the Ducks, in a move that probably haunts their sleep, decided to match it. That massive deal put them in an immediate financial bind, and it gets worse. They still need to sign restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier. With contracts skyrocketing across the league, Gauthier isn’t going to settle for anything less than he thinks he’s worth, and frankly, who can blame him? Anaheim simply had to clear some serious cap space, and the only way out was convincing Kreider to walk away from his final year. It’s a brutal situation for the Ducks, but a massive opportunity for some lucky team.
Kreider’s East Coast Dream, Flyers’ Unfortunate Reality
Kreider’s preference? He wants to head back home to the East Coast. The Boxford, Mass. native spent 13 of his 14 NHL seasons crushing it for the New York Rangers, so wanting to return to familiar territory makes total sense, especially with family potentially being a factor. So, are the Flyers an option for a guy who still produces? Absolutely not because of a talent issue. Kreider would undeniably make them a better hockey team; he’s not someone you just shoo away. Last season, he put up 22 goals and 50 points in 75 games with the Ducks, averaging over 17 minutes a night, and was a key part of their sizeable jump into the playoffs. His 25.1 expected goals ranked third on the team, and MoneyPuck even calls him a “great shooter” with a 12.3% Shooting Talent Above Average. He might not be hitting those insane 52-goal campaigns anymore, but this guy still brings serious offensive firepower. Unfortunately for the Flyers, despite the obvious talent fit, the timing and current makeup of their team just don’t allow it. What a shame, because a talent like Kreider doesn’t come available for absolutely free very often, and whoever snags him is getting a serious boost.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Broad Street Hockey.
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